News

News Channels

Highway near Israeli-Egyptian border closed to civilian traffic

The Chief of Staff has prohibited civilian travel on Israel's Highway 10 near the border, following a thorough security assessment

Date: 01/11/2013, 12:57 PM
Author: IDF Website

In light of security considerations, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz has issued an order prohibiting civilians from traveling in the area of Israel's Highway 10 near the Israeli-Egyptian border, except with special permission, for the next year. This decision was made following a thorough security assessment conducted by the IDF.

GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Tal Russo had ordered this area closed to civilian traffic in August 2011, following a terror attack on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Since then, the IDF has taken steps to increase the area's security, including the building of a border fence.

At the same time, the IDF has carried out a thorough assessment of the area's closure. This analysis weighed the security concerns presented by civilian travel near the border against the importance of allowing Israeli civilians to continue their daily life uninterrupted.

It was in light of this assessment that Lt. Gen. Gantz decided to close the area to civilian traffic for one year. The IDF is determined and prepared to protect the citizens of the State of Israel, and it will not tolerate any attempt to use terror against them.